Expression device for musical instruments



v 1. c. HAGEY.

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED AUG, 12, 1921.

1,433,716. Patented Oct. 31,1922;

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

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I-m 4 75 m 7 INN ($91 i768 I [I If 16 N t/tttttttt/t J. C. HAGEY.

EXPRESSIONDEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 7

APPLICATION FILED, AUG. 12. 1921.

1,433,716. Patented 0ct.31,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 31, 1922.

U NIT E D; ST AT ES,

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES CLARKE -HAGEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNO R TO THE CABLE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

EXPRESSION,DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed August 12, 1921. Serial No.- 491,689.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES CLARKE HAGEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented'new and useful'Improvements in Expression Devices for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact descrip tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification. Y

My invention relates to expression devices for musical instruments.

In order that the invention may be readilyunderstood, it is here stated that it has heretofore been usual to provide for the obtaining of soft or piano effects in grand pianos by arranging for a short lateral movement of the piano action from its normal position. For ordinary playing, the action is allowed to remain in normal position and a hammer, when actuated, will strike and cause the vibration of three strings. For obtaining a softer effect, the action may be moved laterally, with respect to the strings, so that a hammer, when actuated, will strike and cause the vibration of'only two strings. This provision for the obtaining of softertone effects is not, however, suitable for use with the usualplayergrand-piano, as the shifting of the piano action also involves the shifting of the piano keys, and this would interfere with the player-mechanism, or vice versa. The usual player-grand-piano comprises a plurality of keyactuating stickers, one for 'each key, which project through the piano key-bed and engage under the rear ends of the keys to lift the same and cause the hammers to strike the strings. It is clear that any attempt to shift the piano keys laterally, while any of the key-actuating stickers were in raised position, would result in jamming the raised sticker or stickers against the adjacent unraised key or keys, and the force with which this lateral adjustment of the piano keys is usually made would probably cause serious damage to the stickers or to the keys, or to both. It has, therefore, been the practice to provide for the obtaining of soft or piano effects in player-grandpianos through some adjustment other than one which involves lateral movement of the keys.

One of such other adjustments consists 1n lifting the hammers closer to the strings to effect a shortening of the hammer stroke and a consequent decrease in the force of. the hammer blow upon the strings. To accom plish this lifting of the hammers, a movable hannner-rest-rail is provided, extending beneath the stems or shanks of the hammers. For ordinary playing, the hammers are allowed to rest in normal or lowered position and a hammer, when actuated, will travel its full stroke in delivering its blow upon the strings. For obtaining a softer e ect, the hammer-rest-rail may be raised to lift the hammers nearer the strings and a hammer, when actuated, will travel a shorter distance in delivering its blow upon the strings. This provision for the obtaining of softer tone effects is not, however, suitable for use during the manual playing of the keys, as the lifting of the hammers involves the lowering of the front ends of the keys, making shallow what is known as the dip and seriously interfering with what is known as the key touch. This objectionable result is due to the fact that, in grand pianos, the keys are carefully and accurately balanced to properly counteract the weight of the hammers upon the rear ends thereof, and the lifting of the hammers, by means of the movable hammer-rest-rail, takes the weight of the hammers from the rear ends of the keys, the forward ends of which consequently drop as the rear ends rise to follow the lifting of the hammers and the intermediate elements of the hammer or piano action.

The hereinbefore described usual method of providing for the obtaining of soft or piano effects by arranging for a short lateral movement of the piano action involve a similarly short lateral movement of the piano, keys, but such an adjustment does not disturb the proper dip of the keys nor interfere with the key touch.

It is therefore apparent that, in prov ing for the obtaining of soft or piano effects in player-grand-pianos, the lateral adjustment of the piano action and piano keys is more desirable when the instrument is be n played manually, and is not at all desirablr or advisable when the instrument is being played by means of the player-me hanism. It is likewise apparent that the lifting adjustment of the hammers for this purpose. by means of the movable hammer-rest-rail,

din-I is more desirable when the instrument is being played by means of the player-mechanisin, and not at all desirable, but e2;- ceedi objectionable, when the instrument is being played manually. My invention is designed to permit the proper one of theseadjustmei ts to be made, when desired, underthe respective proper circur. stanrcs or conditions, and to prevent the improper one of said adjustments to be made at such times.

In the drawings, in which several embo ments of my inven on are shown,-

igure 1 is a view, in front elevation, of part of a playergrand-piano, parts thereof being; broken away and parts of the player-meet)anism being omitted;

li ig. 2 horizontal sectional view, on the line 2 2 of Fig, 8, showing a part of the iano action;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the front part ofthe instrument, on the line 3-3of Fig.1;

r 6 is a sectional view, on the line 5--G 5; and 7 is View, showi; vention.

The ple er-grand-piano coin shown in the drawings compri he 10, the piano action 11, pivoted board 12, the Stlliliiffilfli) 13, the l1- the wresnplanlr 15, the pedal-lyre 16, pedals 18, and 19, the playeranechan' 7 action 20 for actuating the a 'ano action, the hannnei-rest-rail 21, the 1eumatic 22 for Luatmg the hammer-rest-rail, and me a for automatically rendering the pies o p dal l? ineffective when the instrument is lit-chip; played by means of the player-11inch anism.

il ith the exception of the means for rendering the piano pedal 11' fUCtiOll of the parts "ed to may be substainiallv the 'ose been employed in nos or in playe: mid-pianos, ihe hammer-rest;:ail 21. may be in two, or even more than two, sections a pneumatic, such as l have shown at 22, n t be employed. for actuating each of said tions Such a construction of the hammer rest-rail 6 cs not, however, form a part 4*" by inve ion and will not be further de- :i-(l h in, since the fruictiou and operation of we individual sections, and. of the several respective pnoumatics for actuating said sections would. ie the same as that of the single hammer-rest-rail 2i and the single pneumatic 22 which I have shown.

frz igmentary vertical sectirnial g still another form of my rm shorten the stroke of the hammers i,

n'ientioned, the hammer-rest lt appears advisable, however, to emphasize one fact which l have already described, namely, that in many.v if not all, player-grand-piano constructions when the instrun'ient is being played by means oi the player-mediallism and the pneun: c 1'22 is: actuated to lift thehannner-rest raii 21, to the front ends of the keys :25 will drop down a distance correspoinling to the distance which the hannners and the intermediate parts of the hammer orpiano action a c lifted. ,1 7 before stated, this lowering 01 1e front ends of the hey so interferes with the proper he; touch as to be very objectionable to pianist and it is, therefore, desirable to provide the instrument with a device which will permit pianist to obtain soft or piano efi'ects without the described usual dropping of the front ends of the keys. For the reasons hercinbefore mentioned, it is, nevertheless, desirable to employ some means for 1;81l11ltting soft or piano eilects to be obtained which will not result in, or permit, the lateral shifting of the keys during the pl yir of the instrument by means of the play mechanism. It appears to be advisable therefore, to employ both of the described adjustments of the piano hamn'iers, the vertical or lifting adjustment to be used during; the use of the playenmechanism and the lateral adjustment to be used dur ng; manual playing, and to prevent the u e of each ell such adjustments under rev: e conditions or circumstances, For this purpose range the connection of the piano p 1? so that, when the instrument is played manually, a depression. of that llekiclj by the pianist will effect the described lateral adjustment of the han'uners, and so that, when the instrument being played by means of the player-mechani in a depression of the piano pedal will be ineffect ,e.

[is will hereinafter appear from the descriptionof my invention, would be easy to provide for the actuation of the hammerrest-rail 21 by means of the piano pedal 17, during the playing of the instrument by means of the playeranechanism, instead oit rendering the actuation of that pedal entirely ineffective under such circumstances, but I believe that such an arrangement vould be inadvisable, since, as l have before often con tructel in separately movable and the actuation of these sections arately accomplished thrones the acti of individual pneumatics, 'lhe actuation of these indiyidual pneumatics is usually con-- rolled automatically from the music or note sheet, and any interference with such out matic control is rarely, if ever, desirable. lu addition. to this reason for my not providing such an arrangement, it would appear to be inadvisable to provide separate pedals for J is the individual actuation of the plurality oi hammer-rest-rail sections, and I know of no suflicient reason for further complicating the closely arranged construction of a grand piano action by providing for the actuation of the entire length of the lmanner-restrajl, or the simultaneous actuation of the pin-- rality of sections thereof, the piano pedal. Such an actuation is possible, al-- though not especially provided for, in many player-upright-pianos but is seldom, if ever, employed during the use of the player-mechanism, and such use is general acknowledged to be detrimental, rather than beneficial, to the proper rendition of a musical selection. Other means are usually proi'ided. for reducing, when desired, the power of the full-stroke blowof the hammers, such as, for instance, a means for controlling the power with which the player-mechanism is actuated." y

The mechanism for transmitting motion of the piano pedal 17 to the laterally movable piano action 11 comprises a pushrod 26 and a'bell-crank-lever 27. The lower end of the push-rod rests upon the rear end of the pivoted pedal 17 and the upper end of the push-rod is normally positioned beneath the end part of the longer horizontally extending arm of the bell-crank-lever 27. The bell-crank-lever is pivotally mounted at 28 in or upon the key-bed 10 and, in addition to the longer horizontally extending arm, has a shorter upright arm which projects through the key-bed and engages against the side of a recess or groove 29 in the under side of the laterally movable key-frame 30. The key-frame 30 carries the entire piano action 11, including the hammers 24 and the hammer-rest-ra-il 21, as well as the keys 25, and is'slidably supported upon the key-bed 10 in any suitable manner. At the right side of the key-frame, a bowspring 32 is provided, the middle part of which is secured to the adjacent casing-arm and the ends of which bear against the side of the movable key-frame to yieldably hold it in normal position. Depression of the forward end of the pedal 17 rocks the pedal upon. its pivot, raises the rear end thereof and the push-rod 26, rocks the bell-cranklever 27 upon its pivot 28, and moves the key-frame 30 to the right, compressing the bow-spring 32 and positioning the piano ac tion so that a hammer, when actuated, will strike only two of the three strings. for the respective note. Release of the pedal 17 will permit the parts to return to their normal positions, the piano action being returned under the influence of the-bow-spring 32, so that a hammer, when actuated, will strike the three strings pertaining to the respective note. It will be understood, of course, that proper stops (which I have not shown) may be placed to insure correct positioning the rear end of one of the piano keys 25.

Thecollapse of any one of the pneumatics 33 will consequently raise its respective sticker 34, lift the rear end of the piano key located over that sticker, and thus actuate the corresponding hammer 24.

As it would not be feasible, for the "easonsalready givemto move the piano action laterally to permit soft or piano effects 1 to be obtained, while theinstrument was being played by means of the player-mechanism, I provide for the obtaining of these effects, during-such playing of the instrument, through the use of the hammer-restrail 21 and the pneumatic 22. The hammerrest-rail (or the sections thereof, if a sectional rail is employed) extends along -beneath the stems or shanks of the'hammers 2iand provided with a plurality of swinga ing arms 35 2 and 3) which are pivotally secured to the piano action-rail 36 to swing about substantiallythe same axis as do the hammers 2st. The hammer-restrail is actuated by the pneumatic 22 through the lift-rod 37, the lower end of which. is secured to the movable leaf of the pneumatic 22 and the upper end of which engages with the under side of the hammer: rest-rail 21. The upper end part of the lift rod 37 passes through and is guided by the guide-rail 38, and the lower part thereof passes freely throughopenings in the keybed 10 and key-frame 30, which openings are large enough to permit the short lateral movement of the piano action to be made during manual playing without damage to the lift-rod 37 or the parts associated therewith. The pneumatic 22 is arranged to be automatically controlled in operation from perforations suitably placed in the music or note sheet.

From the description thus far, it will be seen that two mechanically operable expression devices are provided for obtainin soft or piano effects, one to be controlled by the pianist through actuation of the piano pedal 17, during manual playing of the instrument. and the other to be antomatically controlled in operation from the music sheet. It has also been pointed out that the first of these two devices, which involves a lateral movement of the piano keys, cannot be used, while the instrument is being played by means of the player- Cir the pedal 1? ineffective while the player mechanism is in operation.

The mechanism 23 comprises a pneumatic 39 anda link 40, one end of the link being connected to the movable leaf of the pneumatic and the other end thereof being,- pivotally connected. at 41 to the push-rod 26.

The pneumatic 39 is connected, by a con duit 42, with the wind-chest 43 of the player mechanism action 20, or, if preferred, with some other chamber or conduit of the player-mechanism more directly associated and connected with the air-rarefying apparatus. In order to play the instrument by means of the player-mechanism, it is necessary that the air in the win d-chest 4 3 shall be rarefied. tarefaction of the air in the wind-chest will, through the connecting conduit 42, effeet the collapse of pneumatic 39, and the collapse of pneumatic 39 will, through the link 40, draw the upper end of the push-rod 26 to the left (as shown in Fig. 1), out of operative engagement with the longer horizontal. arm. of the bell-crank-lever 27, and thus render the piano pedal 1'? ineffective to shift the piano action 1.1.

In Fig. 4 is shown another form of construction for rendering the push-rod ineffective to cause movement of the bellcrank-lever 27 when the piano is played automatically. lin this form of my invention, movement of the bell-cranl-z-lever 27 is prevented, when the piano is played automatically, by the interposition of the slidable block 44 into the path of the extension 45 of the bell crank-lever 27 This lock 44 is mounted on a rod 46 which is actuated by the pneumatic 39 which may be connected with thewind-chest 43 in the same way is the pneumatic "39, previously described. A suitable guice 47 may be provided for the rod 46. The bell-crank-lever 27 is operatively 'associatedwith the slidable key-- frame 30, just as is the bell-crank-lever 27 in the construction previously described. l Vith this construction, rarefaction of the air in the windchest 43 wiL, through the connect ing conduit 42,effect the collapse of pneumatic 39* ,'and the collapse of pneun'iatic-39 will, by means of the slidable rod 46, interpose the block 44 in the path of the extension 45 of the bell-cranlelever 527 and thus render the piano pedal 17 ineffective to shift theslidable key-frame 30 and the piano action carried thereby. lnl igs. 5 and 6, I have shown another form of my invention, in which'means are provided. for preventing injury to the sticke1. .J by the operation of the piano pedal N. In this form of my invention, the stickers 34 are guided near their upper ends by means of a movable guide-bar 48, which is provided with a construction. whereby it will. be shifted along with the key-frame 80 when the latter is shifted by means of the piano pedal 17, so that the stickers 34 will at all be in alignment with the keys 25 mounted on the key-frame 30, the construction bein such, however, tha t the key-frame 30 may be withdrawn and inserted. without interference with or from the guide-bar 48. The guidebar 48 may be mounted, for lateralmovement, by means of a pair of swinging links 49, pivotally connected at 50 with the guide-bar 48 and p-ivotally connected at 51 *ith any suitable fired part of the. piano construction. In order that the guide-bar 48 will be shifted along with the key-frame 30 when the latter is shifted, a pair of checkpieces 52 are provided, one secured toeach end of the guide-bar 48, these cheek-pieces between them receiving; the rear bar 53 of the key-frame 30; The construction is such that when the key-frame 30 is pushed back into position, it will engage snugly between the cheek-pieces These cheek-pieces 52 flare outwardly, as shown in Fig. 6, to facilitate the reception of the rear bar 53 of the key frame. I l

By referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that when the piano 'pedal .17 is operated to shift the key-frame 30, (including the rear bar 53), the guide-bar 48 will be shifted also and hus maintain the stickers 34 in alignment with the keys 25- This prevents any possibility ofa sticker being jammed sidewise' by sliding movement of the key-frame durinp' automatic playing of the piano.

.ln Tlg 7 is shown another form of my invention, in which the stickers 84 are guided near their upper ends by means of a movable guide-bar 54, slidably mounted in a channel 55 in the key-bed 10. This guide-bar 54 is provided with cheek-pieces similar in shape and function to the cheek-pieces 52, between which therear bar 53 of the keyframe 30 is received.

In this construction also, when the pianol pedal 17 is operated to shift the keyframe 30,"(including the rear bar 53), the guide-bar 54 will also be shifted, and thus maintain the stickers 34 in alignment with the keys I Having-thus described my invention, what 1 cl aim new'and desire to secure by Let- J. (.tent of the United States is: 1..The combination with an automatic piano having a slidable action, an automatic action for cooperation with said slidable action, and means for causing sliding movement of said slidableaction, of means for rendering said means for causing sliding automatically or manuall movement ineffective when the piano is played automatically.

2. The combination with a manually and automatically operable piano having a slidable action, an automatic action for cooperation with said slidable action, and manually operable means for causing sliding movement of said slidable action, of means for automatically rendering said means for causing sliding movement ineffective when the piano is played automatically.

3. A manually and automatically operable pi ano having two alternatively usable pianissimo devices, the first of said devices being usable when the piano is played manually, the second of said devices being usable when the piano is played automatically, and means for preventing the use of the first of said devices when the piano is played automatically.

4. A manually and automatically operable piano having two alternatively usable pianissimo devices, the first of said devices being usable when the piano is played manually, the second of said devices being usable when the piano is played automatically,

and means for preventing the use of the first of said devices when the piano is played automatically; said piano comprising a slidable action having hammers operable either and said first of said devices causing sli ing movement of said slidable action.

5. A manually and automatically operable piano having two alternatively usable pianissimo devices, the first of said devices being usable when the iano is layed manually, the second of said devices being usable when the piano is played automatically, and means for preventing the use of the first of said devices when the piano is played automatically; said piano comprising a slidable action, and an automatic action for oooperation with said slidable action, and said first of said devices comprising means for causing sliding movement of said slidable action.

6, A manually and automatically operable piano having two alternatively usable pianissimo devices, the first of said devicesbeing usable when the piano is played manually, the second of said devices being usable when the piano is played automatically; said piano comprising a slidable action, and an automatic action for cooperation with said slidable action, said first of said devices comprising means for causing sliding movement of said slidable action, and means for automatically rendering said means for causing sliding movement ineffective when the piano is played automatically.

7. The combination with a manually and automatically operable piano having a slidable action, an automatic action comprising reciprocable stickers for lifting the keys of said slidable action, and manually operable means for causing sliding movement of said slidable action, of means for preventing injury to said stickers during the sliding movement of said slidable action.

8. The combination with a manually and automatically operable piano having a slidslidable action, of means for preventing in jury to said stickers by the operation of said manually operable means, said manually 0perable means comprising a foot-pedal.

10. The combination with a manually and automatically operable piano having a slidableaction, an automatic action comprising 7 reciprocable stickers for lifting the keys of said slidable action, and manually operable means for causing sliding movement of said slidable action, said manually operable means comprising a foot-pedal; of means for preventing injury to said stickers by the operation of said foot-pedal.

11. The combination with a manually and automatically operable piano comprising a slidable action, of means for causing sliding movement of said action, and means for automatically rendering said means for causing sliding movement ineffective when the piano is played automatically, comprising a pneumatic controlled by the playing pressure.

12. The combination with a manually and automatically operable piano comprising a slidable action, of means for causing sliding movement of said action, and means for automatically rendering said means for causing sliding movement ineffective when the piano is played automatically, comprising a pneumatic controlled by the playing pressure, the first said means comprising a push-rod and a bell-crank operated by said push-rod, and the second said means comprising means for rendering said push-rod ineffective to operate said bell-crank.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

J. CLARKE HAGEY. 

